Claude Lemieux's game-winning goal at the 10:19 mark of the third period Tuesday night gave the Phoenix Coyotes a 3-2 comeback win over the Sabres in front of 18,690 fans, the second HSBC Arena sellout of the season. Buffalo had a 2-1 lead to start the third period, but could not hold on for victory. It was the first time they have lost a game this year when leading at the start of the game's final stanza.
Lemieux buried his own rebound for his third goal of the season after Sabres goalie Martin Biron stopped him on his initial attempt from right in front of the Buffalo net.
"The first [shot] I just tapped it in with my backhand, I'm not sure if it didn't cross the line or not and [Biron] brought it back, I thought it went in," Lemieux said. "He threw it back on my stick and I just banged away."
"[Lemieux] should have been laid right out," Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff said. "He's allowed to get his own rebound and we got guys standing around watching."
Phoenix goaltender Sean Burke, who has undoubtedly been the Coyotes' most valuable player this season, made 24 saves. Facing a six on four in the game's final minute as Buffalo pulled Biron for a sixth skater while on a power play, Burke stopped an Alexei Zhitnik slap shot, then a rebound attempt by Tim Connolly a few seconds later.
Ruff was not impressed with Burke's performance.
"I'm tired of talking about how well other team's goaltenders have played," he said. "We've made them look good."
Biron, looking to rebound after a sub-par performance last Friday night against Montreal, stopped 16 shots. He didn't get much help from a Sabres defense that was missing injured players Rhett Warrener (groin) and Dimitri Kalinin (thumb).
Curtis Brown and Maxim Afinogenov scored their first and fourth goals of the season respectively for Buffalo.
The Sabres will face "Buffalo South," the Tampa Bay Lightning, tonight at 7 at HSBC Arena. Tampa Bay's lineup features four former Sabres: Dave Andreychuk, Brian Holzinger, Matthew Barnaby and Corey Sarich.
